There's the professional way to clean your makeup brushes...and then there's the real girl way. Here's how to effectively degunk and de-grime your brushes when you don't want to spend hours doing so (and really, who does?).
Like flossing or drinking enough water, we all know we should be cleaning our makeup brushes regularly, but, let's get real, how many of us actually are? We're certainly guilty as charged (it just seems so time-consuming!). Still, there's no denying that grimy brushes are majorly gross -- they can lead to all kinds of unwanted skin issues like breakouts and even infection -- not to mention that they don't work as well. So we asked the pros for the easiest, fastest ways to clean makeup brushes. Read on for game-changing advice that's guaranteed to make even the laziest girl a clean brush convert.
Let's start with the most obvious: Dirty brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria (insert obligatory 'duh' here). "Keeping your brushes clean ensures that you're not transferring germs between your face and your makeup," explains makeup artist, beauty expert and founder of Lazy Perfection Jenny Patinkin. This holds especially true for cream products kept in your bathroom, she adds (humidity in the air and water in the product encourage bacterial growth).
Aside from the ick factor, there's also the matter of efficacy. Dirty brushes deposit a layer of oils from your skin onto your makeup, creating a hard film on the surface that makes it hard to get the product onto the brush, notes Patinkin. (If your makeup looks speckled or shiny, that's a telltale sign). Plus, dirty bristles can start to stick together, leading to streaky application, and not cleaning brushes in between colors can affect how the color looks, points out celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli. The bottom line: Clean yo' brushes.
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For a Fast Fix In Between Uses
Lightly rub the brush on a washcloth or towel (one that's specifically reserved for this use, and this use only.) While this quick fix isn't necessarily enough to get rid of germs, it's sufficient to remove excess product and will help extend the length of time you can go between deeper cleans, says Patinkin. Just avoid using paper towels or tissues if your brushes have natural bristles: "Paper products contain tiny fibers of wood pulp that can get into the porous natural hairs and dry them out," she explains.
To quickly address the germy component, a brush cleansing spray is the laziest way to clean makeup brushes, says Patinkin, who likes Japoneseque Makeup Brush Cleanser, $14. "It contains alcohol to sanitize, but also conditions the bristles so that they won't dry out," she says. Just spritz lightly, since ODing on the spray can leave behind an unwanted residue. Patinkin advises using only one to two spritzes and holding the bottle six inches away from the brush. Don't feel like buying an extra product? When he doesn't have a makeup brush cleaner handy, Scibelli wipes his brushes on fragrance-free face wipes for a similar effect. Try: Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes, $6.49.
While quick wipes and spritzes are great for day-to-day, you'll occasionally need to wash makeup brushes thoroughly. "In theory, once a week is ideal, but in reality, aim for every three to four weeks," suggests Patinkin. (The one caveat: If you're dealing with active breakouts or things like styes or cold sores, a weekly makeup brush cleanse is mandatory.)
Not sure how to get started? Here's how to clean makeup brushes the right way. If you're using a solid formula, wet the brush, then rub it right onto the soap. Liquid? Add a few drops into a mug filled one-third of the way with warm water and swirl the bristles in the suds. Scibelli also likes using Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Mat, $32, a textured rubber mat that deep cleans bristles. No matter what, the most important thing is to avoid getting water into the ferrule, the part of the brush that connects the bristles with the handle; this can loosen the glue and ruin the brush, cautions Patinkin.
